Tonganoxie earmarks $31,500 for sesquicentennial celebration

The Tonganoxie City Council has earmarked $31,500 for the Tonganoxie Sesquicentennial celebration this summer.

The council approved the measure, 5-0, at a rescheduled meeting last week.

Council Members Curtis Oroke and Kara Reed are on the event’s steering committee and presented a proposal for the funding request.

Roughly $21,000 will go toward funding headliners and equipment for musical entertainment for both nights of the celebration, June 10 and 11.

The celebration is taking place when Tonganoxie Days normally has taken place, the second weekend in June.

Oroke has been talking to businesses about sponsorship as well, among other facets of the celebration’s preparations.

“Curtis has done a lot of the preliminary work,” Reed said of inquiring about sponsorship.

Assistant City Manager Jamie Shockley created a sponsorship form that businesses and organizations can use to donate varying levels of money for the event also.

Reed said that it’s through sponsorship and other potential revenue, such as money from beer gardens, that could recoup city funds.

“Honestly, there still are some unknown costs,” Reed said.

Portable bathroom facilities, marketing and advertising and trash services are some other potential costs. It’s possible that some service could be donated in some capacity.

Council Member Chris Donnelly said he was impressed with preliminary plans for the event. Mayor Jason Ward also voiced approval, but wanted to be sure the city also assists with other events in 2016.

“I think this is great, and we need to do it right,” Ward said. “Let’s do everything we can.

“I do think those other events are important. The city needs to play a role and still find a way (to help those events).”

Volunteers still are needed for the sesquicentennial celebration. Anyone interested in joining the various festival committees can attend the next organizational meeting, which will be 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at Tonganoxie City Council Chambers, 321 Delaware St.

Business license renewal online

The deadline to renew Tonganoxie business licenses is Sunday, but businesses can renew online.

New this year, the second in which the licenses carry a fee, businesses can renew their licenses online and receive a 10 percent discount.

In order to streamline the renewal process, the city is offering the discount to business owners who submit their application and payment online by the end of the month.

The renewal fee will be $45 instead of $50. Online payment can be made at tonganoxie.org.

Businesses also still can pay by phone, mail or by dropping of payment at City Hall.

Payments can be dropped off over the weekend. Late fees will being Monday.